Chapter Ten
Sophie woke up wrapped in Robert’s arms. Had it really been three days since she’d come back to him? How could her life have changed so much in such a short amount of time? She’d become his mate, the Council had been attacked and Katie had been kidnapped.
She was sad and angry, but her heart was happy. She was in love with this man.
Three years ago she’d been awoken by him, protected by him. Within seventy-two hours, he’d captured her heart and now he owned her.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, reaching for her as soon as he woke up.
“How much our lives have changed in three simple days.” She stroked the arm lying across her naked belly. He was warm to the touch.
“Welcome to the world of vampires. Life moves a little too quickly sometimes.”
She smiled. “I’m conflicted,” she admitted.
“Why, my love?”
“Am I your love?” she asked.
“I’ve attached myself to you for eternity, Sophie.”
She smiled.
She was going to tell him.
Taking a deep breath, she let the words roll off her tongue. “I love you.”
Silence met her confession. She waited, tense, unsure.
He kissed her, stopping her from vocalising her thoughts. “I told you your mind would soon know what your body and heart knew already.”
She laughed.
“I love you, too, my sweet Sophie.”
Sophie rolled him onto his back, resting up on her arms. She smiled down at him.
“Everything is going to change now,” she whispered, staring out at the starlit sky.
Sophie felt him sigh.
“Yes, I feel it is.”
“I’ve only just found you and I feel like I’m going to lose you.”
He tightened his hold on her. “I’ll never leave you.”
“Do you swear?”
“You have my word.”
It wasn’t enough, but for the moment it would have to do. Sophie snuggled close to him, relishing the comfort and warmth he supplied, knowing in her heart that something drastic was going to happen to change it all.
* * * *
William paced in his house, feeling as though he was losing his sanity. The whisky and brandy bottles lay at his feet, empty. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He should have protected her. Found some way to save her. No matter what he thought, he could only come to the same conclusion—he was destined to fail every female he cared about. But he refused to give up. Katie needed him.
He had just stood there, unable to move while his worst enemy had taken another woman away from him. It was Emma all over again. He couldn’t allow it to happen this time. He couldn’t let her die, let history repeat itself. Katie wasn’t dead and he wouldn’t give up until he’d done everything he could to get her back.
Katie wasn’t a werewolf. He knew it. So why did he feel there was something he was missing?
Where would they take her? His brain scrambled to figure out the answer.
He glanced down at her blood-soaked clothes. There was more at stake now. James, leader of the Beyer West pack, had just signed his own death warrant. William was now determined to be the one to end that fucking wolf’s life if it was the last thing he did. First, he would find Katie and he’d make sure she still breathed before he went for the wolf.
They were connected by blood. William had to calm down. He must put all of his energy into opening the bridge he’d kept numb and closed off for centuries. Rubbing his hands together, he thought about what had happened the last time he’d opened it up. No, he couldn’t think of Emma. Emma was dead, but Katie…she was still living.
Sitting in the centre of his living room, he focussed on everything he knew about Katie. Hair the colour of amber honey, soft to the touch. His knuckles tingled as he imagined the slide of her hair against his hand. Her eyes, wide and fearful but, when happy, filled with a feisty heat he craved. Her figure was petite from years of draining her resources, but he also saw a woman who would face any battle. She was strong and fiery, weak and brave. Vulnerable and alone.
The connection brightened like a spark. He felt her. He knew her.
She was travelling in a locked van, her eyes covered. He could feel her fear and it was choking him. Her hands were bound. She didn’t know where she was.
William came out of the vision gasping for breath. It was too much. Katie might be physically weak but her mind was strong. Too strong. He was fearful. Her mind was strong like a light bulb shining the brightest just before it blows.
He needed to get to Katie, and fast.
If she used more magic it would consume her and Katie would fall, like many witches before her, into the pits of hell.
He got up from his place on the carpet and left his life and world behind, in search of the woman who could answer not only the world’s prayers—but also his own.